Sleep, dreams inspire 2016 season for The Summer Singers

MINNEAPOLIS – The Summer Singers will give two full concerts in Minneapolis and one in St. Paul, plus two family concerts, and will make a brief appearance at the Loring Park Art Festival as part of their 21st season.

The ensemble, an a cappella choral group of 25 singers drawn from the ranks of Twin Cities area choirs large and small, will feature the works of contemporary composers, including the winner of The Summer Singers’ second annual young composers competition.

Admission for all concerts by The Summer Singers is free. A free-will offering will be accepted. The 2016 concert series, titled Sweet Dreams, features music inspired by sleep and dreaming. The concerts also feature the works of contemporary composers, from Eric Whitacre to Jake Runestad. The 2016 concerts will open the way the 2015 concerts ended, with the performance of This is why we sing, a work commissioned by The Summer Singers from composer Joshua Shank, a Minnesota native.

The group is under the leadership of artistic director Dr. Russell Adrian for a fourth consecutive season. Adrian, who holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Minnesota, said: “Sweet Dreams is designed to create an engaging experience for our singers and our audience members to be absolutely captivated by music. Our dreams and imagination provide powerful instances that entrance our mind and transport us through time.

“I was inspired by Robert Ressler’s text from Joshua Shank’s work, which reads ‘these things that make us dream, also make us sing,’ ” Adrian said. “I hope our music will captivate you in the same way we are entranced by our dreams.”

The Summer Singers will also give a short preview performance at 2 p.m. on July 31, at the Loring Park Art Festival.

The family concerts, specifically for younger audiences, will be held in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 25. The first will be held at North Regional Library, at 1315 Lowry Ave. No., at 11 a.m., and is aimed primarily at young families. The second concert follows at 2 p.m., at Sumner Library, at 611 Van White Memorial Blvd., and is tailored for those of elementary school age and up.

Sweet Dreams will also include the world premiere of Nunc Dimittis. The piece was written by Mankato, Minn., composer Michael D. Atwood and won The Summer Singers’ second annual young composers’ competition.

In 2013, The Summer Singers were recognized as one of the Top Ten Classical performances of the year by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The group has been featured on several Taste of the Holidays CD releases by MPR, and is regularly heard on MPR’s Classical Choral Stream. For more information, visit The Summer Singers’ updated website at www.summersingers.org.